Texas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog

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College of Liberal Arts

Curriculum in History

A major in history affords students both a broad education and valuable practical skills. The program in history encourages students to think analytically, read critically, and speak and write with incision. By acquiring familiarity with people in diverse times, places and circumstances, students of history develop a sophisticated human empathy which is the key to good scholarship and good citizenship alike.

Many students rely upon a major in history as preparation for graduate study in law, business, public administration, international relations and theology. A small number pursue graduate degrees in history itself. Other history majors seek postgraduate employment in business management, advertising and public relations, government service, museum and archival work, editorial and publishing work, park interpretation and administration, non-profit organizations, and professions requiring research and bibliographic skills. By including specific education classes in the undergraduate course of study, history majors may qualify for teacher certification.

In fulfilling the requirements for a B.A. degree in History, students must meet the “General Degree Requirements” of the College of Liberal Arts listed previously and the special requirements spelled out below. A 33-hour major, the program in history includes five required courses and allows students to choose the remainder from course offerings in the history of the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. History elective courses (18 hours) will be chosen from three lists. Not less than 3 and not more than 9 hours should be chosen from each of the three lists. The student should plan a program of study in consultation with one of the department’s undergraduate advisors.

History. 33 credits. Students must take not less than 15 credit hours at upper level for history residency requirement. A grade of C or higher is required for a course to be counted in the major field. A student must complete not less than 18 hours of course work in history at Texas A&M University.

Credit		Course
3		HIST 101 Western Civilization to 1660 or HIST 103 World History to 1500
3		HIST 102 Western Civilization Since 1660 or HIST 104 World History Since 1500
3		HIST 105 History of the United States
3		HIST 106 History of the United States
3		HIST 481 Seminar in History (Senior Seminar)
18		History electives: to be selected from any field of history at the 200-, 300- or 400-level. Not less than 3 and not more than 9 hours should be chosen from each of three prescribed lists, in American, European and World History. 12 hours must be advanced 300- and 400-level courses.

College and University Requirements. Other courses may qualify for the following categories. Students should consult their academic advisors. The following lists incorporate University Core Curriculum requirements. No course can be counted in more than one category, except as allowed in the minor field of study and the International Cultures requirement.

Credit		Course
6		Communication (6 hours): ENGL 104 and one course selected from ENGL 203, 210, 235, 236, 241, 301; COMM 203 or 243.
6		Literature in English (6 hours): ENGL 203 (unless 203 is used to satisfy the communication requirement), 212, 221, 222, 227, 228, 231, 232, or a course for which one of these listed courses is a prerequisite.
14		Foreign Language (14 hours or equivalent): Four-course sequence in French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, unless permission is received from the department head to substitute work in another language. This will not satisfy the college humanities and visual and performing arts requirement.
6		Mathematics: At least 3 hours must be in MATH (excluding 102, 103, 104, 130, 150, 165, 365, 366). Three hours may be selected from PHIL 240, 341 or 342.
8		Natural Sciences: To be selected from natural science courses approved for the University Core Curriculum.
9		Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts: To be selected from humanities and visual and performing arts courses approved for the University Core Curriculum.
6		Social and Behavioral Sciences: To be selected from social and behavioral science courses approved for the University Core Curriculum.
6		Political Science: POLS 206 and 207.
(6)		International and Cultural Diversity: To be selected from approved list. This course may also be used to satisfy any other requirement.
*2		Kinesiology: KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity and KINE 199 Required Physical Activity.
32		Free Electives (including 15-hour minor).
128		total hours

* See University Core Curriculum, item 7.

Minor Field of Study. All history majors must select a minor field of study from departments or divisions within or outside of the College of Liberal Arts or in a particular area of interest (as in the case of interdisciplinary minors or career opportunity minors). The minor will consist of a minimum of 15 hours of course work, 9 hours of which must be in advanced (300- or 400-level) courses. A grade of C or higher is required for a course to be counted in the minor field. Interdisciplinary minors such as women’s studies, classical studies, religious studies, and business have specific requirements; students should consult undergraduate advisors in these areas of study. A second major may substitute for the minor. Courses used to meet the minor requirements also may be used to meet up to 6 credit hours of course requirements in the above categories. See also the statement on “Minor Field of Study” under the general requirements of the College of Liberal Arts.

Teacher Certification.Students wishing to meet certification requirements to teach history or social studies in the secondary schools of Texas must include in their programs of study HIST 101 or 103, 102 or 104, 105 and 106, and either 226 or 416. In addition, students must complete the various requirements for either a History Option II Field Plan (a further 12 hours) or a Social Studies Composite Option IV Field Plan (a further 55 hours).

In order to be admitted to the post-baccalaureate certification program (Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture—TLAC), students must also have taken INST 210 (3 hours), INST 301/EPSY 602 (3 hours), TEFB 323/324 (3 hours), and pass the TExES content exam.

More complete information on the requirements for teacher certification together with other certification options can be found in the College of Education and Human Development under secondary certification. Students must also consult with, and have approval of, their field advisor in the Department of History.